. It may not have been written by Napoleon,
but it was according to his ideas and dictation. Its title was, "_Napoleon
III. and Italy_;" and it set forth a programme of the political
reconstituting of Italy. It exonerated Pius IX. of all the things laid to
his charge by the revolution, but only in order to lay them at the door of
the Papacy itself. "The Pope," it alleged, "being placed between two
classes of duty, is constrained to sacrifice the one to the other. He
necessarily makes political give way to spiritual duty. This is
condemnation, not of Pius IX. but of the system; not of the man, but of
the situation; since the latter imposes on the former the formidable
alternative of immolating the Prince to the Pontiff, or the Pontiff to the
Prince." The pamphlet further taught: "The absolutely clerical character
of the Roman government is opposed to common sense, and is a fertile
source of discontent. The canon law does not suffice for the protection
and development of modern society." The document concluded by proposing
the secularization of the Roman government, and the establishment of an
Italian confederation, of which the Pope should have the honorary
presidency, whilst Piedmont should have the real control. The pamphlet
urged, in support of its arguments, the "abnormal position" of the Papacy,
which was obliged, in order to sustain itself, to rely on foreign armies
of occupation. Such a reproach on the part of one of those who lent succor
to the Pope was anything but generous. Pius IX. hastened to remove this
cause of complaint. On the 27th of February Cardinal Antonelli notified
France and Austria that the Holy Father was grateful to them for their
good services, but that he thought he could himself maintain order in his
States, and so would beg of them to withdraw their troops. This would not
have suited Piedmont, which was interested in maintaining the grievance,
as well as in rendering it possible to involve the Roman States in the war
which was so rapidly approaching. The troops were not removed. Pius IX.
was too clear-sighted not to foresee what was so soon to happen. In an
Encyclical of 27th April, he asked prayers for peace of all the
patriarchs, primates, archbishops and bishops. "_Pax vobis! pax vobis!_"
he painfully repeated. But it was already too late. The young and rash
Emperor of Austria, driven to extremity, thought himself sufficiently
strong to contend at once against France and the revolution. He s